Suction cleaning apparatus



Sept. 4, 1934- E. F. MARTINET SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

P 1934- E. F. MARTINET 1,972,745

SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1932 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Smut/HM Sept. 4, 1934. E, F, MARTINET I SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 YIIIIMMM;

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M Many/Mp driven brush and nozzle construction Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Eugene F. Martinet, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The P. A. Geier Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 21, 1932, Serial No. 623,804

9 Claims.

The invention relates to portable suction cleaners, and more particularly to a suction cleaner brush and nozzle construction in which a rotatable brush is rotatably and preferably removably mounted in a nozzle, and in which the nozzle is detachably mounted on the cleaner so as to provide a detachable motor driven brush and nozzle construction for the suction cleaner that may be readily interchanged with a straight suction nozzle.

It is desirable to use an unobstructed straight suction nozzle on a suction cleaner for cleaning certain objects, and it is likewise desirable to use a suction nozzle equipped with a rotary motor driven brush in cleaning other objects. Suction cleaners have'been made, which are equipped with permanent or detachable straight suction nozzles, and suction cleaners have also been made which are equipped with nozzles in which a motor driven brush is mounted, but suction cleaners have not in the past been provided with interchangeable straight suction nozzles or motor driven brush nozzles.

A suction cleaner having a detachable motor interchangeable with a straight suction nozzle is shown in the pending application of Thomas 0. Adams, for Vacuum cleaners filed'May 13, 1932, Serial No. 611,107; and the inventions shown, described and claimed in this application are improvements upon the constructions shown in said Adams application.

Rotary brushes "are frequently driven by the suction cleaner motor, and in such cases it is necessary to provide driving means between the motor and brush. When a nozzle, equipped with a motor driven brush, is detachably mounted on the suction cleaner for being interchanged with a straight suction nozzle, it is necessary to provide a separable connection in the brush drive means which may be readily disconnected or connected without difliculty, when the nozzle is detached from or attached to the r suction cleaner.

Moreover, the brush drive means must be noiseless in operation, 'efllcient in use, and inexpensive in construction, and must be capable of operating satisfactorily and efliciently over long periods of time without requiring much if any lubricant and without appreciable wear.

Likewise, in event that any of the brush drive parts are damaged or broken accidentally or otherwise and require repair or replacement, it is desirable that the repair and/or replacement may be performed by the most inexperienced person.

Also, it is desirable to have the rotary brush per se, detachably mounted in the nozzle, and to have adjustable mounting means for the 0 brush so that the position of the brush with respect to the nozzle and/or surface being cleaned may be adjusted to compensate for bristle wear or surface characteristics.

And finally, it is desirable to eliminate as much friction loss as possible in the brush drive and mounting mechanism, and to provide yielding connections in, and bearings for,-the drive means to compensate for inaccuracies in the manufacture, assembly and/or use of the brush drive means and the motor driven brush parts.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide for the interchangeable use of a straight suction nozzle or a motor driven brush nozzle in a suction cleaner.

It is a further object of thepresent invention to provide drive means between a suction cleaner motor and a rotary brush mounted in a detachable nozzle of the suction cleaner.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to provide a separable connection, which may be readily connected or disconnected without difficulty when the nozzle is attached to or detached from a suction cleaner, in the drive means between the suction cleaner motor and a rotary brush mounted in a detachable nozzle of the suction cleaner.

Moreover, it is an ,object of the present invention to provide a brush drive means and mounting which is substantially noiseless in operation, which is inexpensive in construction, and which is satisfactory and efficient in use over long periods of time without appreciable wear and without requiring much if any lubricant, in suction cleaner construction utilizing a motor driven brush nozzle having a separable connection in the brush drive means.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide brush parts and brush drive parts which may be readily, quickly and easily repaired or replaced by the most inexperienced person in suction cleaner construction utilizing a detachable motor driven brush nozzle.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detachably and adjustably mounted rotary brush in a suction cleaner nozzle, arranged so that the position of the brush with respect to the nozzle and/or surface being cleaned 'may be adjusted to compensate for bristle wear or surface characteristics.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide yielding connections in the brush drive means of a suction cleaner, between the suction cleaner motor and a brush mounted in a detachable nozzle therefor, so that inaccuracies in manufacture, assembly, adjustment and/or use of the parts of the suction cleaner will not prevent the suction cleaner motor driven brush from operating satisfactorily or efficiently.

Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a yielding or floating substantially oilless bearing for the brush drive of a suction cleaner detachable motor driven brush nozzle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for the convenient and eflicient attachment of a suction hose to a suction cleaner having a motor driven rotary brush, to be used in conjunction with suitable selected cleaning tools. For this purpose, the detachable motor driven brush nozzle is removed from the cleaner and a hose connection is substituted for the same, as

is at present frequently done in cleaners not provided with motor driven brushes. In suction cleaners provided with rotary motor driven brushes, it has heretofore been usual to use a rather clumsy and indirect hose connection, and in such cleaners it has been necessary to disengage the driving belt, which is a dirty and more or less dangerous procedure. Thus, an inexperienced operator mayeasily cross the belt in the wrong direction in reengaging the same, which causes the belt to run oil the pulley and/or revolve the brush in the wrong direction.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suction cleaner brush and nozzle construction incorporating the above objectives and desiderata, which is inexpensive in manufacture, simple in. construction, readily repaired, and satisfactory and eflicient in use.

These and other objects may be obtained by the elements, parts, combinations and constructions constituting the present invention, preferred embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and are hereinafter described in detail and claimed, which may be stated in general terms as including in a suction cleaner having a motor, motor shaft and a detachable nozzle; a brush adjustably, detachably and rotatably mounted in the nozzle; a brush drive shaft mounted in the nozzle; the shaft mounting including a self-aligning, yielding, substantially oilless, radial and thrust end bearing; a yielding, separable connection between the drive shaft and motor shaft; and a driving connection between the drive shaft and brush.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a suction cleaner equipped with one form of improved detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a suction cleaner, partially in section, showing one form of improved detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the shaft, mounting bearing of the brush drive means shown in Fig. 2 taken as on the line 33, Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a view'similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a still further modified form of construction;

. Fig. 6 is a section through the improved motor driven brush nozzle showing the brush mounting, taken substantially on the line 6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the detachable nozzle shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adjustable brush mounting means shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a section of the construction shown in Fig. 8 taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

A usual type of suction cleaner is shown in Fig. 1, which may comprise a motor in a motor housing 10, provided with a fan housing 11 having a fan 12 (Fig. 2) therein, the fan being mounted on the motor shaft 13 and secured thereto by the nut 14. An operating handle 15, and a dust bag 16 connected with the exhaust side of the fan housing 11, are also provided for the cleaner; and the motor housing 10 and fan housing 11 are mounted on front casters 17 and an adjustable rear caster 18.

The inlet side of the fan housing 11 is provided with connector means 19 for the detachable connection of a brush housing suction nozzle thereto, and the present invention contemplates the use of a straight housing suction nozzle such as shown in the Robertson Patent No. 1,415,053 interchangeable with a detachable motor driven brush suction nozzle indicated generally at 20; and the present invention likewise contemplates the use of a hose connection for attaching a suction-hose and cleaning tools to the cleaner, interchangeable with the detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle 20.

The improved detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle 20 includes walls forming a preferably tubular neck 21, and an elongated suction mouth 22. A rotary brush 23, provided with bristles 24, is detachably and adjustably rotatably mounted in the suction mouth 22, and the brush 23 is also provided with a crown pulley rib 25 around which an endless preferably rubber belt 26 passes for driving the brush. A brush drive shaft 27, having a crown surface 28 intermediate its ends, is journaled in the brush housing nozzle by a bearing indicated generally at 29. The upper part of the brush housing nozzle wall opposite the tubular neck 21 is thickened at 30, and the thickened-portion 30 is provided with a recess having a concave spherical surface 31, divided by an annular preferably V-shaped groove 32, and terminating in a cylindrical cup portion 33 (Fig. 3).

A bearing member 34 preferably of porous bronze, having an outer convex spherical surface 35 matching the surface 31, an annular V-shaped groove 36 corresponding to the groove 32, and a cylindrical projection 37 corresponding to the cup 33, is journaled in the recess of the thickened brush housing nozzle wall portion30, clearance being provided as shown in Fig. 3 between the outer surfaces of the bearing projection 37 and the inner surfaces of the recess cup portion 33.

The bearing member 34 is also provided with a cylindrical bore 38 in which one end 39 of the drive shaft 27 is journaled; and the end 39 of the drive shaft 27 is bored out at 40, to receive the compression spring 41, maintained therein by enlarged turns 41a. The spring 41 engages over the shank 42 of the plunger 43, slidable in the bore 40, and normally presses the plunger outwardly of the bore 40. The outer end of the plunger is recessed at 44 to receive the ball bearing 45 which is retained in the recess 44 by riveting over the end 46 of the plunger 43. 1

An oil soaked felt washer 47 is retained in the cooperating V-shaped grooves '32 and 36, and a cork washer 48 is received in the recess of the thickened brush housing nozzle wall portion 30 after the felt washer 47 and bearing member 34 have been inserted therein. A preferably steel cap 49 retains the bearing member 34 and washers 47 and 48 assembled in the recess provided in the thickened brush housing nozzle wall portion 30; and the cap 49 is fastened to the brush housing nozzle'wall 30 by screws 50. The cap 49 is provided with a tubular neck 51 extending axially of the brush drive shaft 2'7, there being clearance 52 between the inner surface of the neck 51 and the outer surface of the shaft 27.

The other end 53, of the drive shaft 27, extends axially of the brush housing nozzle tubular neck 21 and a metallic clutch member 54 is mounted on the shaft end 53 and is provided with a concave conical surface 55 on which is vulcanized a clutch surface 56 of rubber or other yielding resilient material.

The motor shaft nut 14 is provided with an external conical surface 57, which telescopes within the clutch member 54 when the detachable brush housing nozzle 20 is mounted on the suction cleaner, and the nut 14 also forms an end bearing for the shaft 27 and a separable driving connection between the motor shaft 13 and brush drive shaft 27.

When the brush housing nozzle 20 is removed from the suction cleaner, the tension on the belt 26 pulls the shaft 27 downward to slightly tilt the same until the shaft contacts with the tubular neck 51 of the cap 49; and the inner end 39 of the shaft meanwhile tilts the bearing member 34 within the spherical recess 31, causing the upper portion of the cork washer 48 to be compressed between the bearing member 34 and cap 49.

The cork washer 48 has enough resilience so that it tends to resist the tilting movement of the bearing member 34 and tends to maintain the shaft 27 in alignment, and at the same time, the tilting movement between the bearing member 34 and the recess in the thickened brush housing nozzle wall portion 30 causes the washer 47 to be slightly compressed to squeeze a slight amount of oil from the washer 4'7 to be absorbed by the preferably porous bronze bearing member 34, and be slowly fed to the shaft 39. The clearance between the cylindrical cup portion 33 and cylindrical projection 37' permits tilting move- I ment of the bearing member 34 to occur.

presses the plunger 43, having a ball bearing 45 in its end, against the inner end of the bore 38 and tends to push the shaft2'7 axially toward the motor shaft nut 14. The tilting movement of-the shaft 27 when the brush housing nozzle 20 is disconnected from the'suction cleaner, is not suflicient to throw the conical seat 55 of the shaft 27 so far out of alignment with the conical surface 57 of the nut 14 so as to prevent ready engagement of the clutch member 54 with the nut 14. v

Inaccuracies in the manufacture and assembly of the suction cleaner parts may cause slight variations in the relative positions of the fan housing inlet'opening, of the external surface of the tubular brush housing nozzle neck 21, of the axial position of the shaft 27 within the brush housing nozzle, of the axial position of the nut 14, and the on-center or off-centerposition of the conical surface 5'7 of the nut 14, which variations, together with wear of or vibration of the rotary parts may prevent the shaft 27 from being truly axially aligned with the motor shaft However, such possible variations in the parts, and misalignments of the shafts 13 and 27, do not prevent proper connection of the brush housing nozzle 20 with the suction cleaner or impair satisfactory or eflicient .operation of the brush drive means because the yielding rubber clutch surface 56, the yielding spring pressed end bearing 45 for the shaft 2'7 and the universally movable shaft mounting bearing 34 compensate for the aforesaid variations, and permit the drive shaft 27 to be satisfactorily and. noiselessly driven by the suction cleaner motor.

- A slightly modified form of detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle construction is shown in Fig. 4 in which the brush housing nozzle 120 is provided with a recess in its thickened nozzle wall portion 130 and the recess includes a cylindrical cup portion 133, in which a wear plate 133a is mounted, a concave spherical surface 131, an enlarged annular groove 132 and a still further enlarged annular groove 132a.

A hearing member 134, having an outer convex spherical surface 135 matching the surface 131, is mounted in the recess surrounded by a felt washer 147 and a cork washer 148, and the parts are maintained in assembled relation by a cap 149 secured to the nozzle wall 130.

The brush drive shaft 27 is journaled in the bearing member 134 and a spring pressed plunger 143 mounted in an end bore of the shaft 27 bears against the wear plate 133a. to normally urge the shaft 12'? toward the motor shaft 1.3. A hanger member 150 may be provided for supporting the shaft 127 in approximately the proper axial position when thenozzle 120 is removed from the suction cleaner. In other respects, the construction shown in Fig. 4 corresponds to the construction shown in Fig. 2.

A still further modified 'form' of detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle construction shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In each of the constructions shown in Figs. 2,

4 and 5, the self-aligning bearing 34 or 134 is preferably packed with the proper lubricant when the brush drive means is originally assembled. If any of the brush drive parts require repair or replacement, the same may be readily accomplished by releasingthe tension of the belt 26 on the shaft 27, whereupon the shaft 27 may be slipped endwise from the bearing for replacement, or the bearing parts may be readily repaired or replaced by removing the cap 49 or 149. a

The rotary brush 23 is preferably removably and adjustably mounted in the brush housing nozzle mouth 22 by means of an end bearing construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive.

The brush member 23 is preferably made of Wood and is provided with reduced end shanks 58 around each of which a cup-shaped ferrule member 59 is tightly fitted for preventing the ends of the wooden brush member from splitting. An axial hole 60 is then provided in each end of the brush member 23 into which an axle pin 61 is driven to make a tight fit.

A block 62, preferably octagonally shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 9, is journaled on each pin 61 by the bore 63, which is preferably eccentrically located through each block, the blocks 62 being retained on the pins 61 by split rings 64 mounted on the outer endof each pin.

An annular hub cap 65 having a preferably squared tubular shank 66 is mounted on and encloses each block 62 so as to enclose the outer end of the axle pins 61, and the squared shank 66 of each hub cap is preferably eccentrically located on the hub cap 65 to correspond with the eccentric location of the bore 63 through the block 62.

A brush mounting clip 67 preferably U-shaped in cross section with spring retaining fingers 68, is mounted at 69 on each inner end of the brush housing nozzle mouth 22, and each U-shaped spring fingered clip 67 forms substantially threesides of a square as shown in Fig. 9, for receiving the squared shanks 66 of the hub caps 65 mounted on the brush axle pins 61.

When the brush is mounted in the brush housing nozzle mouth, the blocks 62 are maintained stationary with respect to the brush housing nozzle walls, while the axle pins 61 are stationary with respect to the brush 23 and rotate in the bearing blocks 62 when the brush is rotated by the drive belt 26.

Upon removal of the drive shaft 27 from the brush housing nozzle 20, the belt 26 is released and the brush 23 may be readily removed from the brush housing nozzle for any desired purpose. Likewise, by reason of the eccentricity of the outer squared surface of the hub cap shanks 66 with respect to the axle pins 61, the hub cap shanks 66 may be inserted into the U-shaped clips 67 in any one of each of four positions, which will respectively locate the axis of the brush at different levels with respect to the plane of the mouth of the brush housing nozzle; and in, this manner the brush may be adjusted to compensate for bristle wear or particular characteristics of the surface being cleaned.

A separator plate 70 is preferably clipped to the'under side of the brush housing nozzle mouth for preventing portions of rugs and the like from being lifted and drawn too far into the brush housing nozzle mouth by the suction of the cleaner, which if not prevented, renders op-' 'eration of the cleaner tiresome and inefficient.

'- Accordingly, the present invention, embodi- ,;ments of which have been described, provides a detachable suction cleaner brush housing nozzle with a motor driven brush having drive means adapted for separable connection with the suction cleaner motor shaft so that the detachable motor driven brush housing nozzle may be readily interchanged with a straight suction nozzle,

or a hose connection. Moreover, the present inventionalso provides an improved detachable and adjustable rotary brush mounting; and the brush and brush housing nozzle constructions shown and described herein may be made inexpensively and are satisfactory and eflicient in use. 0

It is clear that various modifications may be made in the details of the construction of the improved detachable motor driven brush housing nozzles, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the claims appended hereto are intended to cover such modifications in the detailed construction of devices embodying the invention.

I claim:-

1. In a suction cleaner including a motor, a fan housing, and a detachable nozzle, a rotatable brush within the nozzle, means including a shaft and a separable connection between the shaft and motor operatively connecting said brush to the motor, the separable connection including cooperating telescoping conical parts, and one of said parts comprising an end bearing for said shaft.

2. In a suction cleaner including a motor having a motor shaft, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, a drive shaft within the brush housing, means operatively connecting thebrush to the drive shaft, a self-aligning bearing in the brush housing for one end of said drive shaft, a conical member on the other end of the drive shaft, and a conical member on an endof the motor shaft cooperating with the drive shaft conical member forming an end. bearing and a separable drive connection for said drive shaft.

3. In a suction cleaner including a motor having a motor shaft, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by-the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, a drive shaft within the brush housing, means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft, a self-aligning bearing in the brush housing for one end of said drive shaft, said one end of said drive shaft being slidably mounted in said bearing, a conical member on the other end of the drive shaft, a conical member on an end of the motor shaft cooperating with the drive shaft conical member forming an end bearing and a separable drive connection for said drive shaft, and means urging said drive shaft toward said end of said motor shaft.

4. In a suction cleaner including a motor having a motor shaft, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, a drive shaft within the brush housing, means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft, 9. self-aligning bearing in the brush housing for one end of said drive shaft, a conical member on the other end of said drive shaft, a conical member on an end of the'motor shaft cooperating with the drive shaft conical member forming an end bearing and a separable drive connection for said drive shaft, and spring means reacting between the drive shaft and ber journaled in the nozzle, there being a bore in the bearing member, means for normally holding the axis of the bore in alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, one end of the drive shaft being journaled in said bore, there being a separable connection between the other end of the drive shaft and the motor shaft, and means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft.

6. In a suction cleaner including a motor having a motor shaft, a fan housing and a detachable nozzle, a rotatable brush within the nozzle, a drive shaft within the nozzle, a bearing member journaled in the nozzle, there being a bore in the bearing member, means for normally holding the axis of the bore in alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, one end of the drive shaft being journaled in said bore, there being a yielding separable connection between the other end of the drive shaft and the motor shaft, spring means reacting between the drive shaft and nozzle urging the drive shaft axially toward the motor shaft, and means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft.

7. In a suction cleaner including a motor, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, means including a shaft and a separable connection operatively connecting said brush to the motor, the separable connection including yielding cooperating telescoping conical parts, and one of said parts comprising an end bearing for said. shaft.

8. In a suction cleaner including a motor hav ing a motor shaft, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, a drive shaft within the brush housing, there being a recess within the brush housing having a bearing surface, a bearing member journaled in the recess, one end of the drive shaft being joumaled in said bearing member, the other end of the drive shaft being separably engageable with the motor shaft, spring means reacting between the drive shaft and brush housing urging the drive shaft axially toward the motor shaft, and means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft.

9. In a suction cleaner including a motor having a motor shaft, a fan housing, and a detachable brush housing, a rotatable brush, means carried by the brush housing rotatably mounting the brush, a drive shaft within the brush housing, a bearing member journaled in the brush housing, there being a bore in the bearing member, means for normally holding the axis of the bore in alignment with the axis of the motor shaft, one end of the drive shaft being journaled in said bore, there being a yielding separable connection between the other end of the drive shaft and the motor shaft, spring means reacting between the drive shaft and brush housing urging the drive shaft axially toward the motor shaft, and means operatively connecting the brush to the drive shaft.

EUGENE F. MARTINET. 

